Misplaced Pages

#694305

32-586: The plateau is a large grassland plain ( alpine steppe ) with many wetlands and alpine lakes (six of the largest lakes of Georgia, Tabatskuri , Paravani , Khanchali , Madatapa , Kartsakhi , Saghamo ). The Javalkheti Wetlands are included in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance . The plain is crossed from north to south by the Abuli-Samsari Mountain Range , a series of volcanic cones . The western side of

64-559: A 70-year period, identifying overgrazing, global changes, and the ecological effects of megafauna extinction as key factors. Their findings shed light on the multifaceted drivers behind changes in savannah ecosystems. Echoing this theme of alternative strategies to combat overgrazing, Kriegisch et al. (2019) demonstrated how drift- kelp availability could reduce the foraging movement of overgrazing sea urchins, suggesting that alternative food sources may significantly influence grazing behaviors and aid in managing marine ecosystem pressures. In

96-477: A common practice in China because of the sensitivity of these grassland areas. At an elevation of 4,500–6,000 m, Northern Tibet 's area is covered by approximately 94% grasslands, including the alpine-steppe and alpine meadow. The alpine-steppe in this area has less than 20% vegetation coverage, which consists mainly of Stipa purpurea , Artemisia capillaris , and Rhodiola rotundaia assemblages. Compared to

128-405: A huge positive impact on atmospheric carbon dioxide and global carbon levels, as well as ecosystem sustainability. But carbon is not the only important factor. Low levels of nitrogen and phosphorus have also been found to limit plant growth and net primary productivity. In one study, exclusion fencing was found to increase the carbon stored in the biomass, as well as the nitrogen and phosphorus in

160-470: A similar vein, the research by Cai et al. (2020) presents a stark example of the terrestrial impact of overgrazing, showing how the fertile island effect collapses under extreme conditions in shrub-encroached grasslands . This case study emphasizes the critical need for sustainable grazing practices to protect soil health and maintain ecosystem functionality, further illustrating the wide-reaching consequences of overgrazing across diverse habitats. Overgrazing

192-458: Is a massive threat to the native species of flora and fauna, especially the native bushes which are often overlooked by invasive species looking for homes. Mustalids, rabbits, hares and possums often eat the plants that hold soil together. This makes the ground very unstable and crumbly. If soil is unstable, it is prone to collapse in extreme weather events such as floods and heavy rain. This is detrimental to farmers of crops and animals alike. 40% of

224-724: Is a unimodal pattern across precipitation and vegetation rain use efficiency (RUE), with an increasing trend in Alpine-steppe regions. RUE is lower here compared to the alpine meadow because of differences in species richness, soil texture, and soil carbon content. Changes in vegetation have been used recently as an indicator of grass land degradation in the Tibetan Plateau, along with land desertification and decreased overall productivity. Vegetation shifts from non-poisonous to poisonous plants seem to correlate with increased land degradation. Plants defined as poisonous in

256-507: Is considered the main cause of woody plant encroachment at the expenses of grasses on a land area of up to 45 million hectares. In many arid zones in Australia , overgrazing by sheep and cattle during the 19th century, as pastoralism was introduced by European settlers, caused many long-lived species of trees and shrubs to give way to short-lived annual plants and weed species. Introduced feral rabbits , cats and foxes exacerbated

288-584: Is the limiting factor, phosphorus can be a greater influence on the N:P ratio of plant nutrients. alpine grassland temperature range from 14 degrees Fahrenheit in winter to 50 degrees Fahrenheit in summer Because of their elevation, alpine regions are thought to experience higher rates of warming, causing them to be more sensitive and vulnerable to global climate change . Other major threats to Alpine-Steppes include overgrazing , as well as land use change associated with increases in population size. Because of this,

320-645: Is used as an example in the economic concept now known as the Tragedy of the Commons devised in a 1968 paper by Garrett Hardin . This cited the work of a Victorian economist who used as an example the over-grazing of common land. Hardin's example could only apply to unregulated use of land regarded as a common resource. Normally, rights of use of common land in England and Wales were, and still are, closely regulated, and available only to "commoners". If excessive use

352-591: The American bison of the Great Plains , or migratory wildebeest of the African savannas , or by holistic planned grazing. Overgrazing typically increases soil erosion . With continued overutilization of land for grazing, there is an increase in degradation. This leads to poor soil conditions that only xeric and early successional species can tolerate. A meta-analysis of 148 studies found that

SECTION 10

#1732757608695

384-417: The sustainability of the vegetation in the area. Measures have been taken to regulate the use of these grasslands, including the implementation of protected or ‘fenced areas’. While these measures are certainly a step in the right direction as far as sustainability legislation, they have not been shown to have a very strong effect on the above ground net primary productivity (ANPP). Based on studies done in

416-575: The Mongolian steppes, Liu et al. (2013) found that approximately 60% of vegetation decline could be attributed to climate factors, with the rest significantly influenced by increased goat density due to overgrazing. This points to a complex interplay between climate change and grazing practices in ecosystem degradation. Further expanding our understanding, Stevens et al. (2016) investigated woody encroachment in South African savannahs over

448-443: The above-ground biomass. However this effect was minor, and not enough to compensate for the considerable loss of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus pools from the soil surface layer. Another study found exclusion fencing to be a beneficial tool in lowering carbon dioxide emissions, and increasing methane consumption, which improves both the soil carbon and nitrogen stores. Although findings are controversial, enclosure fencing remains

480-488: The alpine grasslands area include species such as locoweed , which is known to be very invasive. Not only are poisonous plants an indicator of decline, they result in increased mortality of grazing animals. This invasion of poisonous species is spread across all regions of the Tibetan Plateau, but the alpine steppe is the most affected area. The Tibetan Plateau is an extremely important area for livestock farming, and historically overgrazing has been as issue with regard to

512-756: The alpine meadow, the alpine-steppe is cooler, arid or semi-arid, with little precipitation and barren soils. The highest vegetation carbon pool can be found in August, and nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in the area exhibit seasonal variations throughout the growing period. Overgrazing Overgrazing occurs when plants are exposed to intensive grazing for extended periods of time, or without sufficient recovery periods. It can be caused by either livestock in poorly managed agricultural applications, game reserves , or nature reserves . It can also be caused by immobile, travel restricted populations of native or non-native wild animals . Overgrazing reduces

544-407: The alpine steppe region of the Tibetan Plateau, different soil nutrients have differential effects on the nutrient composition and uptake of plants in the area. Soil phosphorus seems to have a much more significant impact on the nitrogen:phosphorus ratio in plants than soil nitrogen does. This type of finding can have implications for different nutrient conservation strategies among plant species in

576-420: The authorities in areas throughout China are under pressure to implement programs to protect and preserve this fragile ecosystem. One such program is the "Retire Livestock and Restore Pastures" initiative, which requires the use of special enclosure fencing . The purpose of this protective fencing is to prevent the grazing activity of large livestock, like sheep , yaks , and goats , in an attempt to restore

608-405: The biodiversity. Turning to the aquatic environment, Ling et al. (2015) have documented the phenomenon of catastrophic sea urchin overgrazing and its role in marine ecosystem regime shifts. Their study underscores the urgent need for effective management and conservation strategies to mitigate the profound ecological impacts of overgrazing, highlighting the issue's global scope. Similarly, on

640-410: The degraded biomass, and maintain ecosystem function. Often these effects can best be seen by the changes they produce in the biogeochemical properties of the soil. The overall goal is to improve ecosystem carbon , nitrogen , and phosphorus storage, by increasing both vegetation and soil pools of these elements. This effect is crucial because even a small percent change in carbon storage can have

672-458: The months of May and September, causing the climate to be arid or semi-arid , making the environment much harsher for plant and livestock life. Vegetation in the alpine steppe is very vulnerable to climate change . Average air temperature has been increasing by approximately 0.3 degrees Celsius every ten years since the 1960s. This is three times the global average, indicating the sensitivity of this area. Studies have been done that show that

SECTION 20

#1732757608695

704-585: The plateau is surrounded by the Javakheti Range . This Georgia location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Alpine steppe The Alpine-steppe is a high altitude natural alpine grassland , which is a part of the Montane grasslands and shrublands biome. Alpine-steppes are unique ecosystems found throughout the world, especially in Asia , where they make up 38.9% of

736-414: The same community, as plants seem to be more sensitive to changes in soil phosphorus than nitrogen, though nitrogen is still extremely important. What also makes this interesting is the fact that nitrogen is a limiting factor for plant growth, and so is actually critical for the overall health of the plant community. Grazing of herd animals has been shown to have a positive effect on the levels of nitrogen in

768-405: The soil, though the return of nitrogen in the excrement. The addition of dung to the soils of this region in a laboratory setting resulted in increased availability of ammonia for plants (their primary nitrogen source). However, in an unaltered system, soil nitrogen tends to be more constant, whereas soil phosphorus is more influenced by climate variation, which may explain why, even though nitrogen

800-583: The spread of vegetation has changed dramatically since the Holocene period. The Tibetan Plateau is composed of three main regions, based on yearly precipitation levels and types of vegetation, namely the alpine meadow , alpine steppe , and the alpine desert-steppe . Since the Holocene, studies of fossil pollen records have shown that the alpine meadow has extended into areas that were previously alpine steppe as precipitation increased during that period. There

832-872: The surrounding land in Australia. In the Caribbean region, overgrazing is a threat to vegetation areas where there is livestock farming, which is an important source of livelihood and food security for many people. a combination of small scale livestock farming with small ruminants, and mixed farming is practised. However, livestock consume vegetation faster than it can be renewed and this leads to land degradation, loss of vegetative areas, and soil erosion resulting in poor quality feed and reduced livestock yields and income. Also, these grazing lands are critical in controlling carbon dioxide and mitigating risks against severe weather such as floods and droughts. Overgrazing weakens ecological conservation. In New Zealand , overgrazing

864-611: The threat to both flora and fauna . Many bird species have become extinct or endangered, and many of the medium-sized desert mammals are now completely extinct or only exist on a few islands of Australia . Overgrazing can also occur with native species. In the Australian Capital Territory , the local government in 2013 authorised a cull of 1455 kangaroos due to overgrazing. Maisie Carr (1912-1988), Ecologist and Botanist, undertook significant research and studies in overgrazing and established consequences on

896-777: The total Tibetan plateau grassland's area. Alpine grasslands, like the Alpine-steppe, are characterized by their intense radiation , with direct solar radiation periods averaging 2916 hours annually. The average temperature in this ecosystem is very low. For example, they may experience temperatures around −10 °C in winter, and 10 °C in summer. Winters also tend to be long and cold, and summers are mild and short. This ecosystem also experiences year-long frost, with no reported frost-free season. The annual rates of precipitation in Alpine-steppes are very low, with mean ranges falling anywhere between 280 and 300 mm. In addition, upwards to 80% of this falls between

928-693: The use of common land in England and Wales was a triumph of conserving a scarce resource using agreed custom and practice. There have been overgrazing consequences in the region Sahel region. The violent herder–farmer conflicts in Nigeria , Mali , Sudan and other countries in the Sahel region have been exacerbated by land degradation and overgrazing. See 2010 Sahel famine . Various countries in Sub-Sahara Africa are affected by overgrazing and resulting ecological effects. In Namibia , overgrazing

960-442: The usefulness, productivity and biodiversity of the land and is one cause of desertification and erosion . Overgrazing is also seen as a cause of the spread of invasive species of non-native plants and of weeds . Degrading land, emissions from animal agriculture and reducing the biomass in a ecosystem contribute directly to climate change between grazing events. Successful planned grazing strategies have been in support of

992-483: The value of most ecosystem functions declines with increasing grazing intensity and that increasing aridity weakens positive impacts of light grazing. Native plant grass species, both individual bunch grasses and in grasslands , are especially vulnerable. For example, excessive browsing by white-tailed deer can lead to the growth of less preferred species of grasses and ferns or non-native plant species that can potentially displace native, woody plants, decreasing

Javakheti Plateau - Misplaced Pages Continue

1024-433: Was made of common land, for example in overgrazing, a common would be "stinted", that is, a limit would be put on the number of animals each commoner was allowed to graze. These regulations were responsive to demographic and economic pressure; thus rather than let a common become degraded, access was restricted even further. This important part of actual historic practice was absent from the economic model of Hardin. In reality

#694305